Michigan Medicine 4th Annual Diabetic Foot Conference 2024

This annual conference, hosted by the University of Michigan Medical School, brings together a diverse team of specialists to address the challenges of diabetic limb preservation. The 2024 iteration, titled “UndeFEETed,” emphasized streamlining care for patients with diabetic foot infections (DFI) through a cohesive, team-based approach. It highlighted the work of the Michigan Lower Extremity Services (MiLES) clinic, showcasing how vascular surgery, podiatry, infectious disease, and internal medicine collaborate to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital stays.
+ What You Will Learn
Attendees were able to:

Identify the latest multidisciplinary approaches and emerging best practices for managing complex diabetic foot wounds.

Describe novel techniques and collaborative care models, specifically the “UndeFEETed” team approach to streamlining DFI patient care.

Recognize the distinct roles of each specialty (vascular, podiatry, infectious disease) and determine appropriate referral pathways for high-risk patients.

Implement strategies to improve healing rates and support limb preservation through coordinated effort.

Discuss institutional outcomes and the efficacy of “Discharge by Noon” programs for diabetic foot patients.

+ Event Details

Date: Early 2024

Location: Danto Auditorium, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan (and virtual options).

+ Who Should Attend
The conference is designed for the entire limb preservation team:

Physicians (Internal Medicine, Vascular Surgeons, Hospitalists, Infectious Disease)

Podiatrists

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

Nurses (Wound Care, Surgical, Floor)

Physical and Occupational Therapists

Social Workers helping with discharge planning.

+ Why Attend

Team Focus: Unlike conferences that focus solely on surgical technique, this event prioritizes the system of care—how to get the right patient to the right specialist at the right time.

Institutional Insight: Gain a “behind-the-curtain” look at how a major academic medical center (Michigan Medicine) manages high-volume limb salvage cases through its specialized MiLES clinic.

Practical Strategies: Learn actionable protocols for reducing length of stay and preventing readmissions through better care coordination.

 
+ Topics:

01 Podiatry – An Update on Outcomes
02 Diabetic Foot Infection Severity Predicts Re-ulceration Post Partial Foot Amputation
03 Chlorhexidine Gluconate Irrigation in Limb Preservation Surgery
04 The Effect of Hemodialysis on Diabetic Foot Complications
05 Applications of Minirail External Fixator in Arthrodesis Foot Surgery for the High-Risk Patient Population – A Case Series
06 Keratinocytes Induce Macrophage Inflammatory Phenotype in Diabetic Wounds
07 Revascularization for PAD Patients
08 Social Determinants of Health within Podiatry
09 Scope of the Problem – Challenging Diabetic Foot Cases
10 Total Contact Casting with Diabetic Foot Ulcers
11 UndeFEETed – A Team Approach to Streamlining Care for DFI Patients